the E-elements cubed

When you think about successful retail operations, there are three elements that must be present: experience, education, and excitement.  Whether you're at a discounted furniture outlet, a luxury fashion boutique, or a car dealer, and everything in between - it doesn't matter what you're selling.  The focus should always be how you sell those products or services.  And when you prioritize those three elements, you're always guaranteed success. 

First: the experience.  There are many aspects that impact a customer's experience.  Is your location convenient to access?  Your facility should be clean, well lit, organized, and easily accessible by your clients.  You should have the right products in the right place at the right price with the right signs at the right time.  Whenever possible, ensure you have samples, demonstrations, or interactive stations to engage your clients.  Encourage your employees to "play" with everything - the more they have personal experience with your products, the easier it will be to sell those products and services to your clients.  If you're a travel agency, maybe you organize a "reward" trip for your top salespeople, which in turn creates incentive and doubly allows them to experience the actual services they're selling.  Or if you're a Medical Spa, maybe you offer your employees a complimentary service on their birthday, intensifying employee satisfaction and your employee's brand awareness.

On a recent trip to Nashville's Green Hills Mall Sephora, I was quickly greeted by both Jessica and Ty.  Not only were these two employees incredibly welcoming and friendly, they quickly started talking about their new favorite skincare products, offering demonstrations, and encouraging me to try things for myself.  There wasn't an overwhelming sales pitch, but instead a genuine demonstration of love and excitement for the products they were offering and a true desire for me to try these products and samples myself.  Before I knew it, I had Peter Thomas Roth's 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches on my eyes.  It wasn't just a generic offer to "feel free to try anything you want" - but a very specific invitation to try something new and exciting, that both employees had used and loved.  And this product isn't cheap, either. But that didn't matter. Jessica and Ty loved the product, were excited for the results, and wanted me to try them for myself and experience a piece of the luxury for myself.

What it is:
A pack of eye patches with a unique blend of colloidal gold, caffeine, hydrolyzed collagen, and humectants that work together to minimize the look of fine lines and puffiness.

What it is formulated to do:
Peter Thomas Roth’s 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches leave the eye area looking smooth, revitalized, and radiant. Enriched with pure 24K gold and colloidal gold, these powerful and refreshing eye patches lift and firm the delicate eye contour in just 10 minutes. They’re formulated with Pure 24 Karat Gold, which imparts an opulent, radiant glow, while it locks in moisture and supports skin’s firmness. Colloidal gold, an “activated gold," helps to give skin a lifted, firmer appearance. These eye patches help plump the look of skin with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and humectants help to deliver intense hydration by attracting and retaining moisture from water in the air.

This set contains:
- 30 x 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patch duos

Secondly: education.  You must educate your employees.  Do they know the history and heritage of your company?  If you sell multiple brands, are they able to describe the difference between ranges on offer?  If you offer services at multiple price points, are they able to differentiate between category levels? If they are, they'll be able to confidently and competently recommend the right products and/or services for the right clients.  And in turn, an educated staff will make for educated customers.  Again, I reflect on my last experience at Sephora.  Both Jessica and Ty were able to ask open ended questions, learning exactly my skincare concerns and preferences, and based on my hopes and needs, were able to show products that were of interest. With a brief conversation about being stressed and tired, they both instantly started showing the latest and greatest eye potions, lotions, tonics, and pads.  And before I knew it, as demonstrated by the photograph above, I was trying something I didn't even know existed.  And while trying the product, I heard in detail the ingredients, the inspiration behind the product, and how it would so easily fit into my skincare routine.

Thirdly: excitement starts with you.  If you're excited, your employees will be excited, and most importantly, your clients will be excited.  Excitement creates energy.  Excitement creates a dynamic feeling of euphoria and encouragement.  Would you want to shop in a store where the employees look miserable and lack a passion for their craft?  Of course not.  At the Sephora, both Jessica and Ty were so obviously excited for their products and roles.  They were engaging, very well educated, and absolutely excited.  The excitement was infectious.  And this wasn't just my experience.  In between my trying other products and browsing on my own, both employees were bouncing back and forth between other customers, equally providing the same exciting, educational, and experiential services and attention they were giving to me.  If there was something that struck our fancy, we were given product printouts and samples to take home before even asking or hinting at the offer.  The experience wasn't just free - it was fabulous.

And as if the skincare experience wasn't absolute perfection, our conversation randomly transferred from skincare to fragrance, and before I knew it, Ty was walking me over to meet fragrance guru Bill.  The same care, passion, and fun I had in skincare was duplicated in fragrance. 

After this experience, it's very clear that the manger of this location is spot-on.  Shout out to the entire team, and all the supplemental teammates behind the scenes who make such a wonderful place.  I am beyond impressed.

Here are a few other products that were recommended to me that I'm really intrigued by and loving:

Sunday Riley's Power Couple Duo: Luna and Good Genes

What it is:
A transformational power product duo that combines lactic acid and trans-retinol ester to exfoliate and brighten the skin.

What it is formulated to do:
In use together, this power product duo uncovers more radiant, moisturized skin while promoting evenness of skintone. Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment exfoliates and moisturizes the skin while smoothing the appearance of fine lines. Luna Sleeping Night Oil contains a powerful, yet gentle trans-retinol ester and moisturizing botanical oils to reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines, and sun damage while preventing flakiness and irritation.

This set contains:
- 0.5 oz Good Genes Treatment
- 0.5 oz Luna Sleeping Night Oil

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
For sensitive skin, alternate use of each product nightly. For skin accustomed to treatments, apply one to two pumps of Good Genes in the morning and four to five drops of Luna at night. For most effective results, and for skin accustomed to these treatments, use products together, layering at night. Use Luna first, allow to absord into skin, and follow with Good Genes application.

Dermaflash Facial Exfoliating Device

 What it is:
A first in class at-home, patented, safe, hygienic, exfoliating device inspired by dermaplaning, a procedure available only in medical spas or doctor’s offices, which refinishes skin by removing dead skin cells and built up debris, while also gently removing facial hair for smooth, luminous, and youthful-looking skin.

What it does:
Made specifically for women, DERMAFLASH Facial Exfoliating Device comfortably and discreetly sweeps away skin imperfections, dullness, and peach fuzz with a subtle sonic vibration. In just three simple steps, it gently removes dead cells, debris, and fine hair from the cheeks, jawline, lip area, chin, and forehead. It is safe for all skin types, skin colors, and ages. DERMAFLASH immediately unveils smoother, more vibrant, and younger-looking skin in the comfort of your own home. Prep is a pre-treatment cleanser and Soothe is a nourishing hydrator for use immediately after using DERMAFLASH.

This set contains:
- DERMAFLASH Facial Exfoliating Device, charging base, and line cord
- 6 x DERMAFLASH Exfoliating Edges - To perform DERMAFLASH
- 0.8 oz Prep
- 0.8 oz Soothe

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
DERMAFLASH Facial Exfoliating Device prepares the skin perfectly for skin care and creates the ideal canvas for flawless makeup application. DERMAFLASH makes you look as though lit from within and results increase with each use.

Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment

  What it is:
A two-part, intense, wash-off treatment duo powered by black and white charcoal that minimizes the appearance of pores while balancing the skin.

What it is formulated to do:
This decadent treatment is formulated with the power of black and white charcoal and the added benefits from Kaolin Clay to detoxify and cleanse the skin and pores deeply without irritation. The formula also moisturizes, balances, and hydrates for a clearer, more refined, stronger, and healthier looking complexion.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This product is also free of preservatives, artificial fragrances and colors, gluten, and ethanol alcohol. It is dermatologist tested and can be used as a full facial or a spot treatment.

Perricone MD OVM Serum

What it is:
A professional-strength overnight serum to brighten and tighten the appearance of skin.

What it is formulated to do:
This powerful overnight serum harnesses eggshell membrane and effective levels of retinol in a proprietary formula that delivers all of the benefits of retinol without side effects. It diffuses the appearance of wrinkles and unveils radiance so skin appears younger and smoother.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
The eggshell membrane is the thin layer between the egg white and the shell. It contains the perfect matrix of components to nourish and protect precious egg components, which are now harnessed in OVM Serum to deliver powerful and protective properties to the skin.

Kate Sommerville's DermaQuench Liquid Lift + Retinol Advanced Resurfacing Treatment

What it is:
A powerful antiaging booster treatment that combines oxygen with firming retinol to create a smooth, supple glow.

What it does:
Inspired by the most sought-after treatment at the Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts™ Clinic, this resurfacing booster treatment is formulated with a retinol active ingredient combined with natural bio-retinols, which support natural collagen production and healthy cell turnover to create the appearance of firmer skin with increased elasticity, reduced wrinkles, and more even pigmentation. Its unprecedented delivery system infuses skin with three powerful ingredients in the Advanced HydraFill™ Complex: wrinkle-relaxing PFC-oxygen carriers, fast-penetrating hyaluronic acid, and radiance-boosting rare botanical extracts. The result is a complexion that appears smoother, more hydrated, and healthier.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

Research results:
- In an independent clinical study over 4 weeks of use:
- 100% of women reported significant improvement in the appearance of skin roughness, firmness, and moisture after just one use.
- 100% of women reported significant improvement in the appearance of skin roughness, firmness, moisture, pore size, discoloration, and fine lines around eyes after 4 weeks of use.

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Special note: even if this product had absolutely no benefits, I would buy it.  Because it smells
abso-freaking-lutely amazing.  When Ty and Jessica first introduced me to this product with rave reviews, they warned me the smell would be intoxicating. And they weren't kidding.  I'd also add "seductive" to their description.  I think I needed a private moment to myself after trying a bit on my arm.  And the entire car ride home, I couldn't stop smelling and feeling my arm.  That's how incredible this product is.

What it is:
A fast-absorbing body cream that helps tighten and smooth the look of skin.

What it is formulated to do:
Many Brazilian creams have a secret ingredient: guaraná, a native Amazonian plant whose fruit contains one of the most potent forms of caffeine on the planet. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream is also powered by a Brazilian blend of extraordinarily nourishing cupuaçu butter, antioxidant powerhouse açaí, and super-conditioning coconut oil for irresistible, touch-me skin. The fast-absorbing texture contains just enough mica to add a perfect Brazilian glow, as the formula helps your body look and feel its smoothest and tightest. Pistachio caramel leaves skin delicately fragranced.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Phthalates

What else you need to know:
This product is also formulated without animal by-products, propylene glycol, synthetic colors, PEGs, and petrolatum.

”We came together with a mutual love of the distinctly Brazilian attitude towards beauty, their secrets, and their know-how. In Brazil, we believe you’re as beautiful as you feel. Our beauty isn’t a standard to reach, it’s an attitude to take. A head-to-toe sensuality that comes through in a smile, a saunter, a samba. A confidence that comes from playing up our best assets. Based in the USA, we’re excited to be able to bring you the most effective, transformative, and fun beauty care experiences you’ve ever had, incorporating the latest and greatest super ingredients from the Amazon.”—Que Gostoso

Maison Martin Margiela's Replica 'By The Fireplace'

By The Fireplace combines smoky and woody accords with the subtle sweetness of chestnut to evoke a familiar but forgotten moment—the warmth of a cozy fireplace in midwinter.

The ‘REPLICA’ collection’s first feminine and masculine fragrance, this warm fragrance blends notes of smoky woods and grilled chestnuts. The frosted top note contrasts with the warmer heart for a soft, enveloping, and addictive experience. The scent subtly evolves on the skin to offer winter’s hot and cold contrast; outside it is snowing on a frosty, shivery landscape, but inside the flames of a comforting fire crackle with glowing warmth.

The silhouette of each 'REPLICA' bottle is inspired by classic apothecary jars, allowing the collection to be instantly identifiable. Each bottle carries a 100 percent cotton label, which is printed using black ink text and resembles the tags used on the clothing and accessories for the 'REPLICA' couture collection. The unique pumps are wrapped with a rope to symbolize the authentic reproduction of the original 'REPLICA' couture line.

Notes:
Pink Pepper, Orange Flower Petals, Clove Oil, Chestnut Accord, Gaïac Wood Oil, Cade Oil, Vanilla Accord, Peru Balsam, Cashmeran.
 
Style:
Warm. Comforting. Woody.

If I worked for Sephora, or any of the companies that stock their products in Sephora, I absolutely would head to Nashville's Green Hills Mall location immediately.  They are a working model of how each and every Sephora should be.  

 What stores or businesses do you look toward for inspiration or encouragement? 

face forward

The weather has definitely been wacky in North America lately.  Mother Earth must be confused, blasting the summer heat in Florida, torrential rain and historic flooding in the midwest, and buckets of snow in the plains.  Regardless of where you're living or traveling, follow these steps for perfect pores and supple skin.


Step One: Exfoliate.

When you're deep cleaning your home, you always sweep before you mop the floor.  Same goes for your skin.  Exfoliating is key for fresh faces, allows for maximum efficacy of your skincare products, and makes for a healthy, radiant look.  There are a few different types of exfoliants: physical, chemical, and professional.  Physical exfoliants literally scrub away the dead skin cells and other damaging debris.  There are a number of exfoliating tools on the market, like sonic brushes.  You can also use products with texture, like ground seeds and crushed shells.  Chemical exfoliants can be naturally sourced or made in a laboratory, and unlock the glue that holds dead skin cells to the face, help soften the skin, and promote healthy skin in general.  And finally, professional exfoliating is done in a dermatologist's office or Medical Spa, and usually consists of high potency products and treatments, like laser resurfacing. 

In the winter time, I recommend exfoliating once or twice a week.  Any more than that and you'll run the risk of leaving your skin raw and chapped.  Concentrate especially on the face and hands, as these are the areas most often exposed to harsh winter weather. It's also important to exfoliate the rest of your body. With so many layers of clothes, your body will be more prone to sweating, chafing, and less breathing than normal.  Exfoliating will give your skin a chance to breathe a sigh of relief, removing those pesky pimple-causing oils and pore cloggers, revealing fresh, youthful skin.

Step Two: Cleanse.

Cleansing the skin is very important, and isn't a "one size fits all" type of product.  You may be dry, combination, or oily.  You may have special skin concerns, like acne, redness or other discoloration, sensitivities, or advanced aging.  I recommend using a face wash geared towards your skin concerns, with as many natural ingredients as possible.  I wash my face in the shower every morning, allowing the steam to also open my pores and help for even deeper cleaning.  (And guys, shaving after you shower allows for a closer, smoother shave!)

Step Three: Protect.

Now that you've cleaned the skin, it's important to protect the skin from the elements, nourish it, and address any skin concerns.  This is when you may apply specialty serums, balancing tonics, specialty serums, moisturizers, and most importantly, sun protection. There are endless options for all of these, so choose products that address your concerns and desires, that fit both your budget and your lifestyle. 

Even in the winter time, you must use sunscreen.  Many indoor lights give off UVA (ultra violet aging) or UVB (ultra violet burning) rays, causing damage and even cancer, so don't forget a final layer of sunscreen on the face, hands, arms, and neck.  

If you're planning on hitting the slopes, don't forget to moisturize and protect any skin that may be exposed to the elements - especially your lips.  Keep eyes protected as well with ski goggles, or at least polarized sunglasses.  And while driving a car or snow machine, remember to apply a layer of sunscreen to your hands, or wear sun screening gloves.

You don't have to break the bank to find good skincare.  Like food in the grocery store, read the ingredients, ask questions, and do your homework.  Here are a few skincare products from every pricepoint:

Say Yes To Tomatoes, for regular use with oily skin, or infrequent use with combination skin.  Let this natural, detoxifying cleanser pick you right up and get you on track to beautiful, clear skin.  It is formulated with active charcoal to draw out impurities and other pore clogging offenders, tomato extract for a daily dose of antioxidants and revitalizing vitamins, jojoba spheres for oh-so-gentle exfoliation, and salicylic acid to deep clean pores and prevent future breakouts. Together, these purifying ingredients clear you up without drying you out.

• 97% Natural
• Paraben, SLS, and Silicone Free
• Cruelty-free
• US$ 9,99

Scrub away the "ick" to have the most youthful, soft, radiant skin.  Sugar softens; salt purifies.  I love Origins' Salt Scrub.  Skin-scouring Dead Sea Salts and warming Ginger Zest cushioned in emollient-rich Macadamia, Soybean, Kukui Nut and Sweet Almond Oils removes all traces of roughness to buff every bit of you. Use it once a week in the shower from the neck down, and more often on the hands, elbows, knees, and feet as needed.  US$38.

For dry and very dry skin, I recommend a super hydrating moisturizer. Boots Derma Care Daily Moisturising Cream is a rich moisturising cream for the management of very dry skin. The cream is quickly and easily absorbed and starts to soothe the skin immediately. The skin feels smooth, hydrated and is less dry in just three days.

• Skin-lipid technology
• Non-greasy; Non-staining
• Non-perfumed; Hypoallergenic; Dermatologically tested
• £1,69

 

 

I love facial wipes, especially for your gym back or travel case.  If you have particularly oily skin, keeping a bag handy in your office drawer or purse will allow for midday freshening and keep skin looking flawless all day long.  Specially crafted for normal to dry skin, Burts Bees soothing cucumber and sage towelettes remove makeup, cleanse, and tone in one easy step, leaving skin naturally clean without the need for rinsing. 30 pack. AU$9,95.

 

 For all skins, nourish the skin with this incredible mask from Peter Thomas Roth. Deeply hydrating and nourishing intensive gel mask. Take a deep dive into refreshing hydration as glacial lake blue marine algae helps deliver nutrients and maximum anti-aging moisture to help defend against the effects of damaging dehydration. Rich tea, sourced from Korea's Jeju Island, helps deliver replenishing nourishment to depleted skin. Antarcticine, sourced from Arctic glacial ice, helps create an eco-bubble over skin to help defend against varying environmental attacks that can increase the signs of skin aging, dehydration lines and the development of visible wrinkles. Helps smooth and revitalize skin leaving it feeling soft and instantly hydrated with a dewy, radiant glow. US$52.

The skin around your eyes is some of the most delicate skin on the entire body.  Moisturize and protect it accordingly.  Say goodbye to puffy lids, raccoon eyes, and those bothersome bags with Tom Ford's Antifatigue Eye Treatment for Men.  From Mr. Ford himself, "I believe an eye treatment is an essential, not a luxury. The eyes are the first place people look when they meet you. They are also the first part of your face to show signs of aging and fatigue. I developed this multi-beneficial, restorative eye treatment, infused with the Tom Ford Skin Calming and Infusing Complexes, to lift and firm the look of the skin around the eyes, helping to diminish the look of lines and wrinkles. The silver-tip applicator helps to cool your skin to help reduce visible puffiness, leaving your eyes looking refreshed and awake."   €68.

 

 I love how energizing and fresh citrus smells.  The Body Shop Satsuma Soap 100g is made with made completely certified and sustainable palm oil and satsuma oil. A completely veggie-based soap bar for the gentlest clean.  Leaves skin feeling fabulous and fresh, without over drying or over hydrating. R45. 

Alpha Fit by Clarisonic is a sonic cleansing device engineered specifically for men's skin to give a closer shave, cleaner beard and healthier-looking skin. It features two different settings to suit your style, whether you're going with the beard look or rocking clean, shaved skin. The powerful system is specifically made to clean thicker, oiler skin thanks to its patented sonic cleansing technology, which oscillates at a frequency of 300 movements per second. Its flexing action works to loosen dirt and oil, removing impurities from pores and prepping skin for a closer, smoother shave. US$189.

What skin care products, tools, tips, and tricks are you loving?

fall favorities, and other things you shouldn't live without

Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, we're all connected to nature and Mother Earth.  When the seasons change, it's easy to implement other changes in your life as well.  Wash away the winter blues and prepare to blossom with spring cleaning.  Shed those unwanted pounds and dull skin in the spring with a fresh outlook and lifestyle for summer.  Now that it's all, we're bundling up more, enjoying time outside as much as possible, and preparing ourselves for holidays, family gatherings, and other traditions.  Here are a few things I love, that just may help you get in the spirit, add a little dash of style + class to your day, and optimize your time so you can ultimately be your best self.



I've talked about the many benefits of candles multiple times, but it's always worth mentioning again.  Candles are the easiest way to add ambiance and festive cheer to any space.  As autumn's crisp nights creep upon us, I love the warmth, soft glow, and pleasant scents that great candles provide.  Choose candles that are as natural as possible, so they don't leave soot or irritate allergies.  In the fall months, I love fragrances that are a little spicier, like amber, cinnamon, and clove, with dashes of brightness, like citrus or herbs, and deeper woods, like sandalwood, teakwood, and oud.  Agraria Home has a fabulous bitter orange, Nest offers Hearth, Diptyque Paris now features Oud, and Firefood from Henri Bendel are all sure wins.

You've spent the summer outside, holidayed as much as possible, and exposed virtually every inch of your body to the summer sun - it's time now to prepare for the cooler, drier months ahead and refocus your skincare routine.

Exfoliating is very important.  Once or twice weekly, gently slough away dead skin cells and other icky irritants.  You can either physically exfoliate, by using a textured masque or scrub, mechanically exfoliate, with a sonic brush that literally polishes the skin, or chemically exfoliate, with powerful acidic solutions and serums.  Choose a natural product, free from fillers and other harsh ingredients, and always consult your dermatologist if you're going to try something drastic.  I love Origins' Never a Dull Moment.  It's made with ground mango and apricot seeds, crushed walnut shells, and powerful papaya and grapefruit extracts, dissolving lackluster dead skin, revealing more radiant, fresh, and renewed skin.  It's good for all skin types, smells delicious, and is gentle and effective enough to use a few times per week.    My skincare maven and friend for life Linda F. recommends Peter Thomas Roth's firmX peeling gel - a potent potion of multi-action enzymes from pineapple, pomegranate, and keratinase, with cellulose that effectively peel and help uncover a smooth, fresh, new complexion without drying, irritating or causing undue stress to skin. Also excellent at removing impurities and decongests clogged pores for a youthful, radiant look. 

Cleanse the skin, preferably both morning and night.  Look for a wash that leaves the skin feeling crisp and cool, without over drying.  Face washes don't have to be complicated or overly fragrant - I look for one that foams, leaving behind no residue for that squeaky clean feel.  In the summer, I find my skin is a bit more oily, so I'll look for a wash containing a bit of salicylic acids and fruit enzymes, to cut down on the shine.  Intended for acne, Philosophy's Clear Days Ahead is frequently in my rotation - this gel packs a powerful punch on bothersome breakouts.  Plus the orange extract leaves skin feeling fresh and radiant - and smells incredibly refreshing.  Because Philosophy's Clear Days Ahead  can be a bit too drying, I limit its use to the summertime or for troublesome times only.  Year round, I love Biotherm Homme's Aquapower Cleanser, This powerful double-action daily cleanser, which also includes a small dose of exfoliating power, effectively removes impurities while refreshing the skin. Its ultra-cleansing fresh gel formula contains a combination of oligo-elements and potent cleansing agents that leave the skin soft, comfortable and exceptionally fresh.

Moisturize and Protect - after you've exfoliated and cleansed the skin, it's time to moisturize and protect.  I look for products that protect against dehydration, deterioration, and oxidation, like Origins' A Perfect World serum,  Just one tiny drop of this workhorse literally stops the clock on aging, protecting the skin from damaging environmental factors like smog, stress, and other oxidizers and keeps skin looking fresh, toned, and radiant.  I also love Murad's Invisiblur Perfecting Shield - a one-stop-shop for anti-aging, flawless looking skin and protection from the sun's harmful rays (and is really great for both men and women).



And I'm absolutely adoring Tom Ford's oil free daily moisturizer for men.  This lightweight, quick-absorbing, skin-mattifying moisturize urses the Tom Ford Skin Calming and Infusing Complexes with a combination of luxurious butters to hydrate your skin, help reverse dullness and help reduce the look of fine lines and pores. It leaves your face looking toned, polished and re energized, without looking primped or too done.  

Spot treat with masques: sometimes all you need is a quick "rescue" - whether sudden dryness, breakouts, or too much oil and shine, a quick masque will often steer your skin back on track in no time.  Exfoliate and cleanse as normal, then apply a thick layer of the masque to face, neck, and decollete.  Let the masque work its magic for 10-15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and continue with your regimen.   For dry skin or a quick moisture surge, I love Fresh's Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask  - their special blend of black tea ferment and extracts of blackberry leaf, black tea, and lychee seed pump the breaks on free radicals and restore skin's elasticity, while Belle de Nuit extract soothes and rebalances the skin to optimal condition, peptides firm the skin and visibly defy the signs of gravity, and hyaluronic acid attracts and maintains moisture for smooth, sheer suppleness. Origins' Out of Trouble is a just what the doctor ordered to fix over productive pores, prevent pesky pimples, and put the kibosh on shine.  It packs a one-two punch with super absorbent zinc oxide and sulfur.  (Side note: If you didn't already know, products with zinc oxide naturally block harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun and light sources, has natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties,  is a natural astringent, and reduces pore size.  If you suffer from Rosacea, Psoriasis, Eczema, diaper rash, or dandruff, products and foods with zinc may be your answer.) It also contains Camphor, which naturally calms the skin.  You'll notice a smoother texture and clearer skin in no time.   

If you travel frequently, or want to make sure you're prepared without breaking the bank, Origins offers the perfect dose of masks in convenient travel or "just in case" sizes. 

If you're like me, you can't live without your iDevices - whether iPhone, iPod, iPad, or iWhatever, they're an essential part to our everyday function.  And that means one thing - we must always have power.  My favorite chords and charging accessories are from Blue Flame.  The cables are brilliantly braided and secured, preventing the dreaded "cable split" so typical of the basic white bits provided by the fruits at Apple.  I had a Blue Flame cable last several years with my last iPhone, and immediately went out when I updated last.  Especially handy if you travel or are frequently on the go, I've had no problems whatsoever.
Makes a great stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift at the office holiday party, too. 

Don't get me wrong - espresso has a place in my life, regardless of the temperature outside or season we're celebrating, but it's nice to finally enjoy hot beverages now that the temperatures and leaves are falling.  I'm loving hot beverages, especially piping hot coffee.  Williams-Sonoma stocks a delicious concentrate of five different apple varieties, making for a quick and easy pot of mulled cider.  I can't get enough of Teavana's Pineapple Kona Pop herbal tea, either.  When I was growing up, my Mom would make a delicious "percolator punch" - a marvelous mix of equal parts pineapple juice and cranberry juice, with cinnamon, cardamom, clove, and ginger in the percolator basket.  I think it'd be really nice to mix this Pineapple Kona Pop with Mom's "percolator punch" for an added layer of tasty treat.  And for a boozy punch, a mighty measure of Solerno Blood Orange liqueur will make mouths happy. 

My favorite activity during fall: spending time with family + friends.  Get outside.  Throw a cocktail party.  Just because.  Take a hike.  Literally!  Keep a soccer ball in the trunk (boot) of your car for a random pickup game in the park.  Open the windows, feel the fresh air, and remember why you're alive.  Be spontaneous.  While it's important to look to the future, don't forget to see your now.